Improvement in cans



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEioE.

TRYON J. M. JEW'ELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHTTO NATHAN SEELEY AND GEORGE I. STEVENS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CANS.-

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 162,478, dated April27, 1875; application filed February 16, 1875.

CASE B.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, TRYoN J. M. J EwELL, of the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented certain Improvements in Cans, of which thefollowing is a specification:

This invention contemplates the use of a wire so arranged, withreference to the cover of a sheet-metal can, that a firm pull upon thewire will draw it through the metal of the cover, and thereby sever thesame from the can.

My said invention consists in a can-cover constructed with a groove, inwhich is provided the severin gwire, laid free or unsoldered in the saidgroove, with its two ends projecting through a suitable orifice in thecover, in such manner that either end of the wire may be pulled upon inorder to sever the cover, as aforesaid.

Figures 1 and 2 are side views of a can made according to my invention.Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the same, and Fig. 4 atransverse section taken in the line as 00 of Figs. 1 and 2.

A is the usual cylindrical can, of sheet-tin or other sheet metal. B isthe cover, of which A is the rim or flange, shutting down past and uponthe upper edge of the can in closing the same. Formed externally in thisflange is a rib, which provides, at its inner side, a groove, to. At 0in this rib is a small hole or perforation. G is a wire, of suchdiameter that a moderate strain in a direction more or less radial tothe axis of the cover will force it through the same as a cutting-edge,as hereinafter explained. This thin wire is laid in the groove to, withits two ends projecting through the perforation c, the wire lying freein the groove, and its two outwardly-projecting ends being turned intoloops b or rings, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The cover, be-

ing thus prepared, is placed upon the can, its flange A shutting orslipping upon the top of the can in the ordinary way. The lower edge ofthe flange is then soldered to the can, permanently uniting the samethereto, as required in the closing of the can for storage,transportation, 850. If preferred, a drop of solder, cement, or the likemay be dropped upon the orifice c to make the same air-tight, but withno special design of fixing the ends of the wire. a

in opening the can a stem of wood, metal, or other materialas, forexample, a lead-pencil or the like-is thrust into one of the loops 1),as shown atf, and a firm pull in a direction more or less radial to thelongitudinal axis of the can is exerted upon the wire. The first resultis to draw the wire in the direction of its length until the loop at theopposite end strikes the flange A, and is thereby made to hold the wireagainst further longitudinal movement, whereupon the outward or radialdraft of the wire causes it to cut through the metal of the flange ascleanly and clearly as would be done with a knife. This movement of thewire under the continued strain requisite to the cutting effect ismaintained until the cut is extended quite around the circumference ofthe can, and, the flange being quite cut through, the cover is separatedfrom the can, and may be lifted off.

It will be seen, therefore, that the wire is arranged for separation bya strain upon either end, and that the loops afford provision forsecuring a firmer purchase upon the wire in opening the can, and.providing a resistingpoint for the latter when strained in severing themetal.

What I claim as my invention is- The can-coverA, constructed with thegroove a, in combination with the free wire 0, projecting from the coverat both ends, and arranged to sever the sheet metal by tension uponeither end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

TRYON J. M. JEW'ELL.

Witnesses:

J AMEs A. WHITNEY, ADOLPH NIOOLLET.

